Quinn, 46, was announced as the successor to legendary men's hockey coach Jack Parker at an introductory press conference Tuesday at the BU School of Management.

"When this job opened up, and I was talking to MIke (Eruzione) I couldn't believe how excited I was over the opportunity to come back to Boston University to coach hockey," Quinn said. "I knew it would be a job that I might be interested if Jack retired some day. I'm humbled, I'm honored, I'm excited, and I wish tomorrow was October 1 and the first day of practice."

Quinn, who played for Parker from 1984-87 and then served as an assistant coach for the Terriers from 2004-09, arrives back at Comm. Ave. after serving the past year as an assistant coach for the NHL's Colorado Avalanche under another BU product, Joe Sacco.

When asked if the new position was his dream job, the Cranston, R.I., native and former All-Hockey East defenseman said: "Absolutely it is. It's great to be home. I'm a BU guy through and through."

In making the announcement, Boston University Athletic Director Mike Lynch thanked Parker for "40 years of sustained excellence." He reflected on Saturday's loss by BU in the Hockey East championship game, explaining that the game "ended an era that will never be seen at Boston University, one that will never be duplicated."

BU President Dr. Robert A. Brown described the search for a new coach, saying "We looked very carefully at a short list of candidates." He went on to address the choice of Quinn. "Although he has 40 years to do it, I'm confident he can fill Jack's shoes."

Quinn is hoping to stick around BU for a long time.

"I've moved around an awful lot," he said. "But I'm here for the long haul ... I've been to a lot of different places but it's good to be home."

He went on to say he "Talked with Jack last night. He said, 'Don't mess it up.' I think he's excited for me. That's what he said, anyway."

When explaining his reaction to being offered the job and accepting it, Quinn said he was "thinking of my father in heaven who's probably proud as a peacock but saying, 'What did you hire him for? You could have done better than that.' "

Luckily for Quinn, BU didn't think it could do any better than choosing the former Terrier star to take over the program.